Sailin Shoes - John Ord

January 25, 1990

John Ord of Hampton says at one time the Sailin Shoes team in the Ferguson League of the Newport News Recreation Department's adult basketball program was made up only of Newport News Shipyard employees.

"As the team developed over the past nine years, though, we've gotten down to where only three of our guys are from the shipyard," he says.

"They come from all over now - Hampton, York County, Virginia Beach as well as Newport News."

This is Ord's third year as coach. The Hampton resident, 5-foot-11, says he usually plays one of the guard positions besides coaching.

He played basketball in high school and some intramurals in college.

"We're probably the oldest team in the league," he says. "Endurance is our biggest problem. We have the experience - most of the guys have a good concept of what they are doing - but when we get tired, we start having some problems."

The team doesn't require much coaching, he says. "My hardest job is getting us teams to practice against during the off season. When the season starts, we just play."

Sailin Shoes finished second in the league last year. Ord says they have a good chance to do at least that well this season.